Title: Roles of the aged, families and communities in the context of an aging society.

POPLINE Document Number: 201459

Author(s):

Kendig HL

Source citation:

In: Population aging: review of emerging issues. Report, proposed study design and selected background papers from the Meeting on Emerging Issues on the Aging of Population, 22-26 September 1986, Bangkok. Bangkok, Thailand, Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, 1987. :75-83. (Asian Population Studies Series, No. 80.|ST/ESCAP/496.)

Abstract:

This paper explores some of the major influences on the social integration of older people in Asia and the Pacific. The basic aim here is to conceptualize the social roles of the aged and provide a framework for further analysis and review. The paper begins by considering some basic concepts and patterns of social integration, turns to the impact of social change, and concludes with implications for both policy development and the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific country reviews. Various forms of family are the most central avenue of social integration and support for older people in virtually all countries. The dominant family form in the West is the modified extended family, in which older couples and individuals prefer to live in their own dwellings but with other generations located nearby and maintaining close contact. Contrary to the stereotyped view of family abandonment, older people and their families in developed nations exchange substantial amounts of practical assistance with their families. In developing countries, particularly in rural areas, the extended family continues as the primary institution in virtually all areas of life. A recent World Health Organization survey of the Western Pacific showed that 70-80% of older people lived with their children. Relatively few of these older people reported that they were lonely or that they had unmet instrumental needs. The future impact of social change includes changes in 1) individual aging, 2) cohorts, and 3) period effects. The movement of more societies through the demographic transition will have mixed implications for the structure of families and informal relationships. Over the course of just 1 generation, the balance may well shift from 1 old person/4-5 children to 2 older people/3-4 children. Policy directions for developing countries include 1) maintaining traditional cultural values which support a useful and respected place for older people, 2) income support from government, 3) employment opportunities for older people, and 4) community and residential services for the frail elderly.

Keywords:

Asia
Oceania
Developed Countries
Demographic Aging
Population Dynamics
Population
Family Relationships
Family Characteristics
Family and Household
Extended Family
Community
Behavior
Policy
Political Factors
Social Change
Social Behavior
Social Adjustment
Dependency Burden
Old Age Security
Developing Countries
Demographic Factors
Residence Characteristics
Population Distribution
Geographic Factors
Microeconomic Factors
Economic Factors